Oil Spill Dispersant Effectiveness in Water. Thomas Moyers.
Corexit 9500 is used in the process of cleaning up oil spills. By testing Corexit in this process it is possible to compare and contrast the effect of Corexit in both freshwater and saltwater. By using a PH meter and a digital titrator, it was possible to find the effect of Corexit on both water samples. By observing how Corexit works in an oil spill by using a magnetic stir bar, it was easier to see what Corexit does to the water. Through these observations, it was possible to see how oil spills are cleaned up today. Through these methods it was possible to see that the Corexit did have an effect on the oxygenation levels, increasing it from before Corexit was added to after, but had no change on the PH level. It was also possible to see that Corexit worked better in saltwater than it did in freshwater. It was concluded that although Corexit can disperse oil relatively well, it is not great for the environment and quality of water.
Key Terms: Dispersant, Digital Titrator, Corexit 9500, PH, Oxygenation levels.
Citations for articles:
http://www.nalco.com/applications/corexit- technology.htm
http://www.lmrk.org/corexit_9500_uscueg.539287.pdf
http://www.propublica.org/article/bp-gulf-oil-spill- dispersants-0430
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